[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7197-H7199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACT OF 2010

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 903) to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance the 
roles of dentists and allied dental personnel in the Nation's disaster 
response framework, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 903

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Dental Emergency Responder 
     Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. DENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS: PUBLIC HEALTH AND 
                   MEDICAL RESPONSE.

       (a) National Health Security Strategy.--Section 2802(b)(3) 
     of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-1(b)(3)) is 
     amended--

[[Page H7198]]

       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``and which may include dental health facilities'' after 
     ``mental health facilities''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``(which may include 
     such dental health assets)'' after ``medical assets''.
       (b) All-Hazards Public Health and Medical Response 
     Curricula and Training.--Section 319F(a)(5)(B) of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6(a)(5)(B)) is amended by 
     striking ``public health or medical'' and inserting ``public 
     health, medical, or dental''.

     SEC. 3. DENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS: HOMELAND SECURITY.

       (a) National Response Framework.--Paragraph (6) of section 
     2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) is 
     amended by inserting ``and dental'' after ``emergency 
     medical''.
       (b) National Preparedness System.--Subparagraph (B) of 
     section 653(b)(4) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
     Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 753(b)(4)) is amended by 
     striking ``public health and medical'' and inserting ``public 
     health, medical, and dental''.
       (c) Chief Medical Officer.--Paragraph (5) of section 516(c) 
     of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321e(c)) is 
     amended by striking ``medical community'' and inserting 
     ``medical and dental communities''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record an 
exchange of letters between Chairman Waxman and Chairman Thompson, who 
is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, regarding this 
legislation.

                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Homeland Security,

                                Washngton, DC, September 24, 2010.
     Hon. Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rayburn Bldg., 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Waxman: I write to you regarding H.R. 903, 
     the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2009.''
       H.R. 903 contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security. I 
     recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this 
     legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, 
     accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the 
     bill. However, agreeing to waive consideration of this bill 
     should not be construed as the Committee on Homeland Security 
     waiving, altering, or otherwise affecting its jurisdiction 
     over subject matters contained in the bill which fall within 
     its Rule X jurisdiction.
       Further, I request your support for the appointment of 
     Homeland Security conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this or similar legislation. I also 
     ask that a copy of this letter and your response be included 
     in the legislative report on H.R. 903 and in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Bennie G. Thompson,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                               Washington, DC, September 24, 2010.
     Hon. Bennie Thompson,
     Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Ford House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thompson: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 903, the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act.'' The 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce recognizes that the 
     Committee on Homeland Security has a jurisdictional interest 
     in H.R. 903, and I appreciate your effort to facilitate 
     consideration of this bill.
       I also concur with you that forgoing action on the bill 
     does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Homeland 
     Security with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on 
     this bill or similar legislation in the future, and I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving 
     this legislation.
       I will include our letters on H.R. 903 in the Committee 
     report on H.R. 903 and in the Congressional Record during 
     floor consideration of the bill. Again, I appreciate your 
     cooperation regarding this legislation and I look forward to 
     working with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
                                                         Chairman.

  I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise this evening in strong support of H.R. 903, the Dental 
Emergency Responder Act of 2010. This bill amends the Public Health 
Service Act to include dentists in the national health security 
strategy, which is the strategy HHS develops to respond to a public 
health emergency. And I would particularly like to thank Representative 
Stupak for all his work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 903 would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to 
utilize dentists and dental facilities to respond to medical 
emergencies. The bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
include dental personnel within the definition of ``emergency response 
providers.'' Mr. Speaker, there has been uncertainty as to whether 
dental providers could be considered emergency response providers.
  This bill also requires the Chief Medical Officer of the Department 
of Homeland Security to serve as the Department's primary point of 
contact for the dental community with respect to medical and public 
health matters related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other manmade disasters.
  Finally, the bill amends the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform 
Act of 2006 to allow, if necessary, operational plans developed by 
Federal agencies with responsibilities under the National Response Plan 
to address preparedness and deployment of dental resources.
  This bill was drafted to ensure that Congress was not being 
prescriptive as to how the Department of Health and Human Services or 
the Department of Homeland Security should plan for medical 
emergencies. The bill provides these Departments increased flexibility 
to utilize additional professional expertise and capacity, if they feel 
it is appropriate. This is just common sense. The fact that today the 
Department of Homeland Security could not talk to a dental school where 
it is decided it would be an ideal place to stockpile materials like 
vaccines but could if it was a medical school is just absurd.
  If these facilities can aid our national defense, or if dentists want 
to be included in our Nation's post-disaster response, the fact that 
the government felt constrained to include them is a gross oversight 
that this bill corrects. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to include in the Record 
an exchange of letters between Chairman Waxman of my committee and 
Chairman Oberstar of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
that pertains to this legislation.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure
                               Washington, DC, September 28, 2010.
     Hon. Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Waxman: I write to you regarding H.R. 903, 
     the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2009''.
       H.R. 903 contains provisions that fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to 
     bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious 
     manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential 
     referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration 
     of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision 
     to forgo a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, 
     reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 903.
       Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees 
     during any House-Senate conference convened on this 
     legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the 
     Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to 
     support any request by the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 903 
     or similar legislation.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of the measure in the House.
       I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass 
     this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                James L. Oberstar,
                                                         Chairman.

[[Page H7199]]

     
                                  ____
                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                               Washington, DC, September 28, 2010.
     Hon. James L. Oberstar,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oberstar: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 903, the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act.'' The 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce recognizes that the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has a 
     jurisdictional interest in H.R. 903, and I appreciate your 
     effort to facilitate consideration of this bill.
       I also concur with you that forgoing action on the bill 
     does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure with respect to its jurisdictional 
     prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the 
     future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment 
     of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation.
       I will include our letters on H.R. 903 in the Congressional 
     Record during floor consideration of the bill. Again, I 
     appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and I 
     look forward to working with the Committee on Transportation 
     and Infrastructure as the bill moves through the legislative 
     process.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 903, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________